Anita Patrick is a lady whose heart is set on God. A student of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. She’s a sold out intercessor, a chef and runs an online personal cook service. She lives a life of love, such that every person she meets experiences the love of the father through her. One of Anita’s dreams is to see a world where every person is able to do more dependent on their abilities in Christ.
She shares her “RUBY GIRL” story with the team.
1. Let’s meet you. Who is Anita Patrick?
Anita Patrick is a student of the federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. She is an intercessor, first child of four kids, from Edo state, born on the 12th of August.
She also works for Nita Cooks, an online personal cook service.
2. What are your hobbies?
Cooking! I enjoy cooking and listening to music a lot.
3. What inspired you to start out as a chef?
I never really knew I enjoyed cooking or anything food related at first. I used to be very very far from the kitchen. My mum would always say that I couldn’t cook and all that. I even did catering craft and food & nutrition but I really did not know. One day I was watching a series on African Magic family and in the series some guys wanted to start a food business but then it was supposed to be mobile and the whole thought seemed really really amazing to me. Then I decided to start a food business, but it was along the line I found out that I really really loved cooking and all kitchen related stuff, I’m still discovering a lot of stuff like how much I love food photography and the rest.
4. Apart from being a chef and running an online platform, what else do you do?
I’m a student majorly for now and lately I’ve been helping brands that want to start up with baby steps for their business and I’ve been really getting interested in brand photography and some IT stuff.
5. What are the challenges you faced as a newbie in entrepreneurship? Do you still experience them? And also how were you able to overcome them?
I’d say I’m still a newbie. And I still face challenges, I can remember the first time I went for an exhibition in Ikeja, I wanted to earn more money. I lent some money for the exhibition because I really wanted to exhibit my food and sell, and then I ran to a great loss because people did not buy. It was very scary but funny enough it didn’t hurt me hard because I saw it as a story I’d tell, which I’m telling you right now (Laughs). I’ve also had to deal with acceptance as a startup, getting people to trust me. Yes, lastly I’ve had times I had deliveries and the food didn’t turn out great because I’ve had to learn things by myself as I didn’t attend any catering or culinary school. I learnt most of the things I know myself, because I easily learn food related activities. But trust me, it hasn’t been really easy.
6. What has the Covid-19 pandemic taught you as an individual and business owner?
Partnership, consistency and growth. It has taught me that you really have to take your own life into your own hands, nobody would wait for you and also the fact that the world would only celebrate VALUE, nothing less.
7. What are the challenges young Nigerian food vendors face?
Hmmmm, majorly I think it’s inconsistent and inefficient raw material distribution of some certain kind of foods. It even affects large scales, there are some ingredients that would be cheaper if they were produced here in Nigeria. Plus the fact that our agricultural system isn’t helping matters at all.
Another thing is logistics, it’s one big issue for young vendors who cannot afford to employ logistics, food is very delicate and it’s something you have to be careful with so having to deliver safely sometimes is an issue and quite expensive.
8.How have you been able to juggle being a student and a chef?
Honestly, it hasn’t been easy. Hasn’t been easy at all, but I’ve had to set my priorities. My education is important and my craft is also very much important, on a scale of 100, I’m tempted to say 40-60 but I know that I only have a number of years in school so why not put in all my best since I have the rest of my life to engage in my craft. So here’s what I do, I put in as much effort as I can in both of them, scripture says the righteous shall be more excellent than his neighbor and then scripture also says that God has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings. Not some. So, I have to be excellent at both and that’s what really helps me.
9. If you were to be the President of Nigeria for one day, what would you change?
You see that law about a young girls getting married? I’d scrap it off.
“Find your purpose in God, whatever your dreams are pursue it and be dogged about it”
10. What steps are you taking into making your dreams of making people see a world where every person is able to do more dependent on their abilities in Christ a reality?
Teach it! Do it myself, like I said earlier, I’m beginning to find my interests in other things and I’m really trying to major in them. We need to learn that if we walk in the consciousness that we draw strength from Christ. There’s nothing impossible for us.
11. Mention 3 women who inspire you and why?
• The first person is my mom, her strength! And then she’s very enterprising, it amazes me a lot.
• Olajumoke Adenowo, how she’s on fire for God and is still doing amazing things in the world, you should read up on her, that way you’d understand better.
• Pastor (Mrs) Shade Obidare, I’ve never met any woman so wise and any woman that expresses so much love and patience.
12. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In God’s will, trust me it’s an amazing sight.
13. If you were given the opportunity to address a group of girls five years younger than you, what will be your advice to them ?
Find your purpose in God, whatever your dreams are pursue it and be dogged about it!
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